Head-to-head comparison
Alfred University vs Roberts Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Alfred, NY
Alfred University
- Net price / year
- $25,620
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,897
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Option B Rochester, NY
Roberts Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $23,130
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,031
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Roberts Wesleyan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $92,520 in 13.9 years versus 15.7 years at Alfred University, on median earnings of $55,031 vs $54,897 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Alfred University | Roberts Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,620 | $23,130 |
| Total net cost | $102,480 | $92,520 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,897 | $55,031 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $23,750 |
| Payback | 15.7 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $28,260 | $40,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Alfred University or Roberts Wesleyan University?
Roberts Wesleyan University, at $23,130 a year after aid versus $25,620 — a gap of $2,490 a year, or $9,960 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Alfred University or Roberts Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Roberts Wesleyan University graduates report a median $55,031 ten years after entry, $134 more than the $54,897 at Alfred University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Alfred University or Roberts Wesleyan University?
Roberts Wesleyan University: its completers carry a median $23,750 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Alfred University, a difference of $2,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Roberts Wesleyan University, against 57% at Alfred University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.